Miami Central celebrated stellar signing class as Marcelin, Wallace sign with Canes
Miami Central has been great at producing state championships.
The Rockets have won nine since 2010 - more than any other Miami-Dade County school.
But this season, Central was stripped of the opportunity to make it 10 after the Florida High School Athletic Association forced it to forfeit all of its wins and thereby disqualifying it from the postseason.
But on Wednesday afternoon, the Rockets had a different 10 accomplishments of which they could be proud.
Those were the 10 players who signed with colleges - all with FBS schools including seven from Power Four Conferences.
Headlined by University of Miami signees Ezekiel Marcelin and Amari Wallace, the Rockets celebrated the accomplishments of 10 of their best during a ceremony at the school’s auditorium.
“A lot of times we get caught up in championships and wins and losses, but when you get into this profession, it’s not a job, it’s more of a calling and you have to make sure you make an impact on the kids that come into your program,” Central coach Jube Joseph said. “Not only do we set a standard for championships but for sending these kids off to college so they can make those academic gains and get that degree which is something no one can take away from them.”
Marcelin, a standout on the Rockets’ defense for three seasons and 5-11, 210-pound three-star linebacker, got a bit emotional after signing his letter with the Hurricanes.
“It was definitely tears of joy,” Marcelin said.
Marcelin and Wallace are the latest in what’s become a pipeline of Central standouts to sign with Miami in recent years. Marcelin has long credited his development to learning on and off the field from current UM defensive standouts Rueben Bain and Wesley Bissainthe.
“Going to college, we’re going to support each other and continue to work together,” Marcelin said. “Now it’s our turn to do what we can.”
For Wallace, the day was a brighter end to a tough senior season he lost after suffering a season-ending left leg fracture during a preseason scrimmage. Wallace, who continually attended Central games and cheered his teammates on from the sidelines, said his rehab has gone well and expects to be ready by this fall.
“We love sharing the moment together because me and EJ have been through this since we were babies. Now we’re doing the same thing going to college,” Wallace said.
“(UM)’s been loyal to us and they have a great cast of guys that have come from Central like Rueben Bain, Wesley Bissainthe, Armondo Blount and we’re going to be there to follow in their footsteps and be true freshmen that make an impact.”
The Rockets had their players sign a wide range of colleges spanning from their UM and FIU commits to the west coast where defensive lineman Floyd Boucard signed with USC.
Also for the Rockets, wide receiver Nae’shaun Montgomery, who had been committed to Florida, ended any speculation he’d flip his commitment by signing with the Gators.
Offensive tackle Jeremy Smith signed with FIU.
More Central signees included defensive back Herlin Perry, who signed with USF, and defensive back Tony Williams, who signed with UCF. Wide receiver/defensive back Sekou Smith signed with Mississippi State. Defensive lineman Randy Adirika signed with Penn State, offensive lineman Woody Celucien signed with Georgia State.
HANKS STICKS WITH GATORS
Ben Hanks Jr.’s father, Ben, played at the University of Florida.
He grew up being nicknamed “the little Gator.”
So while some speculation surfaced in recent days thanks to some persuasion by the University of Miami as to whether Hanks Jr. was indeed going to continue his family’s legacy and head to Gainesville.
Before Hanks Jr. even walked into his school’s library on Wednesday morning, the signs all pointed to that still being the case.
Surrounded by family clad in Gators’ blue and orange, UF-themed balloons and even a sign portraying him wearing a Florida jersey, Hanks Jr. made things official with Florida when he signed his letter of intent.
Hanks Jr., a 6-1, 170-pound, four-star recruit, figures to be one of the gems of Florida’s 2025 class. Hanks Jr. has been one of the most dominant defensive playmakers in the country for the past three seasons at Booker T. Washington.
This season, Hanks Jr. broke the Miami-Dade County single season record for interceptions with 13. And he could have as many as two more games left in his high school career as the Tornadoes are playing this Friday in a Class 2A state semifinal at Havana Gadsden County.
Hanks Jr. said he remained steadfast with Florida even though the Hurricanes were a consideration at one point.
“I talked to Miami on Sunday and let them know I’m going to be a Gator,” Hanks Jr. said. “But I thanked them for everything they did for me and I know they’re doing great things, but I’m taking my talents to Florida.”
OTHER DADE SIGNEES
Carol City: Brandon Thomas (Western Kentucky); Columbus: Bryce Fitzgerald (UM), Hector Chavez (FAU), JJ Gomez (Bucknell), Agyeman Addae (UCF), Dylan Gil (West Georgia); Edison: Sterling Joseph (FIU); Gulliver: Kenny Williams (FIU); Homestead: Cortez Mills (Nebraska); Norland: Darryll Desir (FSU), Mandrell Desir (FSU), Jade Card (FAU); Northwestern: Tywan Cox (Illinois), Antonio Branch Jr. (Colorado), Eric Thomas (Syracuse), Wilnerson Telemaque (West Virginia); Palmetto: Davion Dixon (Notre Dame), Cameron Sapp (Pitt).
